The Take It Back Movement (TIB), Lagos State Chapter, has condemned an attempt by the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos to intimidate members of the Oworo Youth Forum through a series of police “invitation letters.”
In a press statement released in Lagos on March 26, 2026, the movement accused the Lagos State Police Command of using security institutions to harass citizens and suppress grassroots civic engagement.
According to the statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the movement in Lagos, Oluwatosin Adeyemi, and the state coordinator, Adekunle Adeyemi, the invitations were issued by the State Intelligence Department (SID) of the police command.
The letters, dated March 25, 2026, were signed by Jaiyeoba Idowu Joseph, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja. They requested several individuals believed to be associated with a community WhatsApp group to appear before the police for “clarifications” regarding an ongoing investigation.
The police communication referenced case file number CR:3200/SID/LS/T.B/VOL.10/ and directed the recipients to report to the police through the Surveillance Team “B” leader at the State Intelligence Department office by 10:00 a.m. on March 27, 2026.
However, the TIB Movement said the letters failed to clearly state the nature of the alleged offence being investigated, describing the action as vague and potentially abusive.
The movement said the invitations appear to target members of the Oworo Youth Forum, a community-based group where young people engage in discussions about local issues and civic matters.
According to the statement, the development reflects what the organization described as “a troubling pattern of impunity and the increasing use of security institutions to silence grassroots voices and critics of government policies.” TIB warned that summoning citizens without clear allegations could lead to unlawful detention and harassment.
The movement also raised concerns about possible procedural irregularities in the delivery of the letters. According to the statement, some of the invitations were reportedly delivered to individuals whose identities do not correspond with the names written on the documents, raising questions about the accuracy of the investigation and the possibility of indiscriminate targeting.
TIB Movement argued that such actions could indicate attempts to monitor or intimidate members of private community platforms.
The movement stressed that the right to free expression is guaranteed under Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and warned against actions that could undermine democratic participation, “Security agencies are mandated to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law, not to intimidate or suppress lawful civic activity,” the statement said.
TIB further expressed solidarity with members of the Oworo Youth Forum, describing them as young citizens actively involved in community engagement and development.
The movement called on the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and other civil society organizations to monitor the situation and intervene where necessary.
Among its demands, TIB asked the police to immediately stop the harassment disguised as invitation letters, and to review the actions of the State Intelligence Department in the matter.
The TIB Movement maintained that intimidation would not deter citizens from exercising their constitutional rights or participating in democratic processes, “The movement remains resolute in its mission to educate, mentor, and mobilize citizens toward responsible democratic participation,” the statement added.
Leave a Reply